Hersey tips Lake Zurich in epic finale

They've been playing the Hersey Girls Volleyball Invitational for 36 years, and Saturday's championship match had to be as exciting as any.

Featuring top teams from both Cook and Lake County, Hersey pulled out a 25-18, 17-25, 25-22 triumph over Lake Zurich, giving the Huskies (14-3) their seventh tourney title in nine years.

Game 3 was tied at 17, 18 and 19 before a block by Alexa Stedman gave Hersey a 21-19 advantage.

A kill and block by 6-foot-1 sophomore Layne Self (12-of-13, 6 kills) pulled the Bears back to a 21-21 tie before Hersey scored 3 unanswered points with back-to-back kills by Kristen Pedersen and a Lake Zurich hitting error.

The Bears (12-4) pulled to within 24-22 on another kill by Self before Pedersen slapped down the match-winner to an opening on the right front of the court.

Pedersen and Christine Solans each finished with 7 kills in the match while Kelsey Haas delivered a match-high 10 and had 57 for the tourney.

"Oh boy, did Kristen (Pedersen) ever step up in this match," said Hersey coach Nancy Lill, whose team has won nine straight matches. "And Kelsey had her best tournament ever (career-high 17 kills against Glenbard North in pool play). She was amazing."

Abby Fesl was responsible for getting the ball to Haas and company. The sophomore setter was 356-of-358 with 137 assists in five matches.

She now has two Hersey Invite titles after watching her older sisters Megan and Annie each win four in their illustrious Hersey careers.

"It's been awesome because Abby (Fesl) and I are finally connecting," Pedersen said "It's also exciting because we lost to Lake Zurich in the sectional championship last year and we were able to defend our title in this tournament against them."

Lake Zurich had not lost a game until the Hersey match.

The young Bears - only three seniors on the roster - cruised past Elgin, Montini and Schaumburg in pool play, then defeated Hoffman Estates in the semifinals.

"I'm proud of the way we played," said senior setter and tri-captain Alexis Hartman, who was 69-of-70 against Hersey with 30 assists. "Hersey pushed. We pushed. It just caught up to us at the end."

Junior Ali Summers contributed 22 digs for the Bears in the title match while Amanda Orchard put down 12 kills from 32-of-34 attacking. She also had 10 digs.

Natalie Gora was 9-of-10 on attack with 4 kills and Karlissa Skarb was 12-of-12 serving.

"Honestly, we did everything that a winning team does not do (against Hersey)," said Bears coach Matt Aiello. "Overall, we played good volleyball. We lost to Hersey in this match last year but then things happened quite nicely for us in the sectional championship (with over Hersey). So we come out of here with a lot of confidence."

The young Huskies gained confidence, too.

Defensively, they were led by Danielle Perkins (71 digs), Jenni Mueller (65), Solans (49), Fels (37) and Taylor Schill (36).

"We played very good defense and our hitters came through, especially Kristen in that last match," said Mueller. "It's great to be able to win on our homecourt. It was intense but I am glad we pulled it out, after losing to them in the sectional last year."

Lill was impressed by the Bears.

"This was an unbelievable fight to the finish," she said of the title match. "They are an outstanding team with a huge block and Amanda Orchard has a huge swing. They're young, but very good.

"We're young, too. I have a feeling we're going to see a lot of each other through the next few years."

The Huskies got to see fellow Mid-Suburban League rival Schaumburg in the semifinal Saturday.

In a battle between East and West leaders. Hersey is 4-0 in the East and Schaumburg 4-0 in the West. The Huskies prevailed 25-21, 25-19.

The third-place match ended up a battle between MSL West rivals as Schaumburg stopped Hoffman Estates 25-13, 25-12.

For the tourney, the Saxons (11-5) were led on offense by USC-bound Emily Young (24 kills), Alyssa Saklak (19), Sara Travis (18), and Rebecca Thompson (19).

Young also handed out 56 assist while Meghan Falsey had 29. Natasha Senecal collected 39 digs.

Austin Peay-bound senior Jada Stotts put down 50 kills for Hoffman (7-9), which went 2-3 in the tourney.

Sophomore Becca Stoczynski added 12 for the Hawks while setter Mel McGinn had 56 assists and Kelsey Pellus 29.

Glenbard West tournament: Fremd and Prospect each went 3-2 in the tourney and the Vikings (11-7) won the consolation championship with a 25-19, 25-11 victory over Glenbard East.

Fremd defeated Prospect in the consolation semifinals 25-19, 25-21.

Alex Messner (55 kills), Kelly Doherty (17) and Rebecca Clarke (8) led Fremd's attack which was set by sophomore Marylin Lortz (72 assists from 223 attempts).

Rebecca Bagg served 7 aces for Fremd while Messner and Nina Scott each had 5. Teammate Jaimie Groot was 43-of-54 serve receiving.

Prospect (6-5) posted wins over Glenbard East, Lake Park and Streamwood.

St. Viator Invite: St. Viator (12-2) went 5-0 to win the championship of its own invite, winning four of the matches in two games.

Senior Emily Leazer (44-52) collected 16 aces to lead the Lions at the service line followed by Lauren Bunda (39-43, 6 aces), Samantha Wallenberg (31-39 6 aces), Carlyn Clevenger (38-45 6 aces) and Lauren Falotico (32-35, 5 aces).

Leazer (89-of-109) was also tops on attack with 42 kills, followed by Julie Sweeney (37-43, 25 kills), Rachel Horvath (35-39, 17 kills), Falotico (55-60, 18 kills) and Janelle Stilling (28-34, 13 kills).

Clevenger set the offense, going 230-232 with 92 assists.

Conant (5-12) went 2-3 in the tourney and was led on attack by freshman Jennifer Donnell's 21 kills.

She was followed by Chelsea Vanicek (18), Kelly Anderson (17) and Allie Bauch (13). Setter Kaitlin Chiero handed out 70 assists while Bauch served 8 aces and Vanicek 7. Rachael Yordon led the defense with 45 digs.

Mother McAuley Invite: Despite playing without two starters - junior libero Amanda Dee (ill) and sophomore Lauren Shechtman (sprained ankle) - Barrington went 3-2 in the tourney and improved to 7-11 overall.

"To be without two starters, I'm very pleased with how we played," said Fillies coach Chris Bronke, whose club is in second place in the MSL West with a 3-1 record.

Barrington posted wins over the Mother McAuley junior varsity, St. Edward and Mount Assisi.